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There Will Be Notes!
You’re at home and the phone rings. It’s Shonda Rhimes. You’re surprised that she called you, but at the same time, delighted. She needs your help. Have you seen her latest episode of TV? She’d like your thoughts. Do you have any […]
I’m Not Procrastinating, You’re Procrastinating!
Seems hard to believe that the new year has started, and January is half way through. All my creative projects that stopped at the end of the year are back in full swing. But, frankly, part of me is still on holiday break. With the stress […]
You – in the Writers Room
You’re in the writers room, working on a TV series. Every weekday you arrive, ready to collaborate with other smart writers. The showrunner, your boss, has created characters you’re excited to write for and a series you’re thrilled to help on. You have a desk and an office and the show buys you lunch every day. Before […]
Confidence is Not Required
I’ve been hearing this over and over again from writer friends and clients: some believe they’re handicapped because they don’t have confidence. Without it, they say, they are floundering in their writing careers. I don’t think confidence is required.
On Dictionary.com confidence is described these ways:
1. full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a […]
What’s Your Question?
Recently I’ve been posting on Twitter, inviting people to send in questions about playwriting, TV writing and the “writing life”. I’m willing to answer the juiciest questions on video, posted to my YouTube page. Part of the reason I coach, is that I enjoy being […]
Curating, Conversing or Creating?
Someone told me this week that they’re cutting back on Facebook. I get it. It can be a time-suck. It’s tempting to spend time liking and posting and commenting. Your creative work (and other work) can be ignored in the wake of all that activity. There are […]
Break All The Rules!
I’m teaching a class at the UCLA Extension School about developing your original story. Over 12 weeks, we’re exploring the basics behind TV movies, mini-series and TV shows. The class culminates in the students developing a pitch. They’ll turn in a written version and then they’ll pitch […]
What Happens When Your TV Show Gets Cancelled
Last week when it was announced that ABC wouldn’t be renewing American Crime, I received the news like a punch in the gut.
I knew, intellectually, that it might happen: although our reviews were stellar [Deadline critic Dominic Patten called season 3 “the strongest installment yet in the Emmy-winning anthology series from John Ridley and ABC” and compared the […]
Anybody Want To Read My Script?
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen those words in a Facebook group or a chat list. “Anybody want to read my script?” I think writers who post this kind of question are playing a dangerous game.
Feedback is a terrific and useful tool in the life of a writer. No matter the medium, it’s […]
